Cat Grooming Tips

A clean cat is a happy cat, and we're here to help! From nail trims to bathing, a little maintenance goes a long way. Read on to find out how to keep your kitty’s eyes, ears, teeth, skin and fur healthy and clean. Please note: There are some cats who do not tolerate being groomed. If your cat fights the grooming process, and there is some potential that injury could occur to your cat or yourself, please make an appointment with a professional groomer or a veterinarian to have your cat groomed.

Bathing Your Cat

With her built-in grooming tools (tongue and teeth), your fastidious feline is well-equipped to tackle her own hair care needs. But if she is very dirty or gets into something sticky or smelly, you may need to give her a bath. Follow these steps to ensure minimal stress and maximum efficiency.

Brushing Your Cat

Brushing your cat not only removes dirt, grease and dead hair from her coat, but it helps to remove skin flakes and stimulates blood circulation, improving the overall condition of her skin. One or two brushings per week will help kitty to keep her healthy glow—and you’ll find that regular sessions are especially beneficial when your cat ages and is no longer able to groom so meticulously on her own.

Skin Problems

The condition of your cat’s skin is an indication of her overall health. When a skin problem occurs, your cat may respond with excessive scratching, chewing and/or licking. A wide range of causes—from external parasites and allergies to seasonal changes and stress, or a combination of these—may be affecting your cat’s skin and should be investigated. Skin problems are one of the most common reasons pet parents seek veterinary care.

Shedding

Shedding is a cat’s natural process of losing dead hair. Indoor cats can shed all year-round. Regularly grooming your cat and vacuuming hair from your house should minimize the inconvenience of shedding. However, if you see bald patches in your cat’s fur or notice a significant loss of hair, the underlying cause may be a health-related problem and should be investigated by a veterinarian.

Ear CareYour cat’s ears may be able to pick up the sound of a bag of treats being opened across the house, but they could still use a little help staying clean. Monitoring your kitty’s ears once per week for wax, debris and infection will help those sensitive sonar detectors stay perky and alert to your every move.

Healthy Paws

Cats need healthy feet to scratch, climb and achieve their famed acrobatic landings. That’s why it’s important to regularly examine and clean your cat’s paws and make sure they’re wound-free.

Nail Care

Does your kitty disappear when the clippers come out? Do you have to wrap her in a towel to give her a manicure? Follow these steps to help your cat relax while you trim.
Source. ASPCA

Walking Your Cat

Take Your Cat on a Walk

Most people don't know you can actually train your cat to walk on a leash. Yep, you read that right. You can walk your cat. On a leash. Most cats like to be outdoors as being indoors constantly isn't natural for them. They aren't able to climb and hunt indoors like they would naturally do in the wild. And you can't just let your kitty run around outside because of the dangers of other animals, traffic, and poisons they can get into. There are several steps to take when trying to teach your cat to learn to walk on a leash. The first is knowing your cat. If you have an adult cat, it's going to be a little more difficult to train than a kitten would. If you know your cat would not EVER willingly let you put a harness on it or it freaks out when you try to take it outside, then don't even attempt to teach them to walk on a leash. It will just stress them, and you, out. No one needs unneeded stress. 

Training Your Cat 

1. Buy a harness, not a collar. Cats are like little magicians and get out of tiny spaces, including collars. You also don't want your cat to get spooked and dart up a tree and get choked by a collar or have the collar break. A harness is a much better option. It won't choke your kitty and it's harder for them to get out of.

2. Be patient and go SLOW. Cats are not dogs. They do what they want, when they want. If you're expecting Fluffy to sit and allow you to put a harness on her because Fido does, you have another thing coming! Fluffy will scratch, claw, run, hide, and hiss her disapproval with the situation. You can use treats and praise like you would your dog. Try training when your cat is hungry, and use treats as positive reinforcement. 

3. Get your cat used the harness and leash before going outdoors. If she puts a paw into it, give her a treat and praise her. As soon as you get the harness on, give her a treat and praise her. If she takes a step or two with the harness on, treat and praise. Continue this process until she's walking around with the harness on all over the house. If she just freezes and falls over or runs and hides, take the harness off and give a treat as a peace offering. Then start putting the harness near her food bowl so she can get used to it. Then try putting the harness on again after she has gotten used to the idea of it.  

4. Once she's used to walking around the house in her harness and leash, start by taking her outside just a little ways from the door. Again, patience and go slow. If you live in a busy area, lots of kids in the neighborhood or traffic, she may resist. Start with a few feet and try to go a couple more feet every time. You may need to coax her and let her know it's okay. Once she gets used to it and all the noises, she'll want to venture further. 

5. Don't let your kitty climb any trees and don't tie your cat to anything for even a second. If your cat gets spooked, it's too dangerous and she can get tangled up in the leash. 

6. Expect this to take a while. Depending on your cat, it can take a couple weeks to a few months. Expect some setbacks. It's not going to happen overnight. Just be patient with your kitty and in no time the two of you will be on lots of walks together!